U.S. Open fans yesterday at the first day of the tournament "waited over 45 minutes in an unforgiving snake of a security line," according to Mary Pilon of the N.Y. TIMES. There were "wands, bag checks, confusion about being in the right place, cellphones left in pockets and irritated fans." The wait "made for an odd scene" yesterday morning "as some of the world’s best players hit courts with no or few fans, many of them caught on the other side of fences." The USTA "announced new security measures this year that required guests to proceed through magnetometers and wanding before entering the grounds." Some ticket holders went to "'speed lines' for bagless fans, yet still found themselves waiting to enter for over 30 minutes." While USTA officials "acknowledged the delays Monday morning were long, they said they aimed to swiftly reduce the fan wait time." USTA Dir of Corporate Communications Chris Widmaier yesterday afternoon said, "We need to have a better system in place. And I think even by the night entry we’ll have the delays solved." Event organizers "plan to add signs and volunteers to better direct traffic" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/27). On Long Island, Chau Lam notes the lines yesterday "stretched from the entrance of Arthur Ashe Stadium to the subway station." At the East Gate, "where Widmaier said 90 percent of spectators enter, there are seven metal detectors working, with three others set aside for those needing additional screening" (NEWSDAY, 8/27).
RAISE THE ROOF: ESPN.com's Jane McManus noted the USTA's plan to spend $550M to upgrade Arthur Ashe Stadium with a roof and the grounds of the National Tennis Center is "good news for players who bank on scheduled days off in late rounds of a major tournament, and for fans who inadvertently buy tickets for a rainy day." But it is "bad news for television viewers who wait for the yearly replay of the classic match between Jimmy Connors and Aaron Krickstein, a rain-delay staple." National Tennis Center COO Danny Zausner said, "Bottom line is we wanted to get a roof" (ESPN.com, 8/26).
THE EYES HAVE IT: SI.com's Bruce Jenkins wrote tennis "simply can't compare" to the NFL, NBA or MLB "in terms of television ratings or daily conversation." However, there is one category "in which tennis unquestionably rules: instant replay." The Hawk-Eye system, now "in its eighth season at the tour level, represents the height of efficiency." For "all the talk about advanced technology and the desire to 'get it right' when an official's call comes under question, only tennis moves beyond a snail's pace." Hawk-Eye "not only dismantles a tennis controversy in a matter of seconds, but spectators get to watch replays right along with the players." It is "fun, lightning-quick and decisive." Through all the "debates and discussion, credibility is at the heart of Hawk-Eye's impact on tennis, a sport that values its time-honored traditions but is constantly moving forward" (SI.com, 8/26).
